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Dealer Cost to Replace Front Struts

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by NancyC, Jan 5, 2020.

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  1. NancyC

    NancyC New Member

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    most of the costs quoted in the forum are from people doing the replacement themselves so I'm not sure how to judge the quote from the dealer. He says the left front strut is leaking and the right front is close. "after market quick struts, 1,713 installed" Also "the front sway bar links are worn and noisy" and suggests replacing when the struts are done for an additional $362. Then alignment afterwards for $90. So a total over $2K. Sounds like a lot to me, but not my area of expertise and don't have a recommended independent mechanic. 125K miles on 2011 gen3. Thoughts on the price?
     
  2. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    Welcome to PriusChat!!

    Which part or Massachusetts are you near, maybe someone can recommend a mechanic.
    Way overpriced. Best to get numerous other free estimates, unless your metro area is in collusion.

    Rarely will you find a Toyota dealer that offers "after-market" parts, please find a new Toyota dealer.
     
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  3. NancyC

    NancyC New Member

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    I'm in the Boston area, metro-west. Sounds like I should definitely ask around and get some other quotes. Thanks for your response!
     
  4. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    I had 185k miles on our 2010 when I swapped out the front struts:).

    I had the boots torn and a bit of seepage for at least 100k miles prior:cool:.

    Way overpriced for the job. I’d get an independent mechanic as this job is standard and not hybrid specific ;).

    Anyone reputable mechanic can complete this for you. Good luck and keep us posted(y).
     
  5. tankyuong

    tankyuong Senior Member

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    Make sure it’s leaking first of all
     
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  6. Elektroingenieur

    Elektroingenieur Senior Member

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    To replace the right and left front shock absorber assemblies on a third-generation Prius car (ZVW30 series), one edition of Toyota’s Flat Rate Manual allows 2.3 labor hours: 1.6 hours for one side (operation number 431151), plus 0.7 hours for the opposite side if done at the same time (operation number 431151A).

    The list price for new, Toyota Genuine assemblies (part numbers 48510-80542 and 48520-80265, respectively, in catalog Figure 48-03, Front Spring & Shock Absorber) is $146.35 each. One Toyota dealer near me sells them online for about $100 each, plus shipping and tax.

    As @Raytheeagle kindly notes, this is a job that any competent mechanic could do.
     
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  7. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    Welcome to PC.

    Just curious.
    WHY was your car at the dealer?
     
  8. NancyC

    NancyC New Member

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    To put the snow tires on
     
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Definitely get other opinions too, as to whether replacement is even necessary.

    (Just to add to the above.)
     
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  10. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Dealer costs for strut replacements have never been cheap. On the Gen2 cars, many owners have been quoted around $2000 for front and rear shock/strut replacements. If you're only doing the fronts, $1700 seems awfully high. Also the sway bar links are really easy replacements, 2 nuts that hold them in place (in the same area as the struts)

    Independent mechanics will probably not charge you to put on the sway bar links, if you're doing the strut replacement at the same time.
     
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  11. 2012 Prius v wagon 3

    2012 Prius v wagon 3 Active Member

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    Yes, really. The best way to save on repairs is to avoid unnecessary ones. And I'll go even further on something like a strut - I'd wait until you can tell from driving that it is not damping as it should, which may mean they last the life of the car.
     
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  12. NancyC

    NancyC New Member

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    Bringing it in to an independent mechanic on Wednesday. I'll let you know what he says.
     
  13. NancyC

    NancyC New Member

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    Somehow I get the idea that this won't surprise any of you, but I took it to a mechanic that someone from work recommended and he didn't see a leak and didn't think they needed to be replaced yet. Dealer had also said the front pads and rotors needed replacing and this guy said they probably have another 10,000 miles. Also, I asked how much it would cost to replace with quick struts and the sway bar when the time came and he said around $1,000. Much, much less.

    So you all just saved me a lot of money and now I have someone to take the car to instead of the dealer. Thank you!
     
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  14. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    You might want to have a discussion with the service manager at that dealership with your new findings
     
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  15. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    This is why I asked you WHY your car was at the dealer.
    This isn’t new, and it’s not limited to Toyota dealerships....but in your case this is nothing short of attempted theft. The dealer was not “recommending” unneeded service. They were not trying to charge you extra for something that you NEEDED.
    They were trying to steal money from you.
    In some places....even in California, trying to steal $1,000 is not considered to be a trivial crime.
    At the very LEAST I would contact the manager and the owner of the dealership and “share my thinking” with them.
    Maybe show them a printout of this thread.

    I drive a Toyota nearly every day for work but I have not been a Toyota owner since 1989.
    THIS is why.
     
  16. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    The service manager was probably the one who wrote up the estimate! :ROFLMAO: Dealerships prey on women and anyone else they suspect of being an easy mark.

    I took my daughters car in for an alignment and the tech suggested new tie rods. You should have heard all the back-peddling when I informed him I had recently installed a new pair myself.
     
  17. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Well this can happen with any car you drive, regardless if it's a Toyota or not.

    I recently got a quote for Toyotacare Plus, which is the extended maintenance program from Toyota that goes up to 5 years. These maintenance things usually are no more than oil changes and tire rotations. In CA we pay $329 for 4 years/45000 miles. However when I asked for a quote online from out of state, I got a quote of $900+ for the same thing. I gotta think to myself, who in their right mind would buy such a crazy expensive maintenance package for $900+ for 2 oil changes, tire rotations, and 24 hr roadside assistance?

    I think there's a value in the $329 price point, but $900+ is just crazy
     
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  18. elementnomore

    elementnomore Member

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    @NancyC Los Angeles Toyota Dealer parts and labor pricing. $849 front, $525 back, $329 spark plugs.